The midcentury is considered the epitome of "cool." But the very concept of what is "cool" actually originated from jazz. The language of jazz and the slang that it engendered is its own fascinating subject. It is remarkable that this vernacular has been adopted by the culture at large. Many words have been assimilated into the general culture, but "cool" has been most deeply and permanently appropriated.

Palm Springs in the midcentury was very cool. Tracy Conrad, President of the Palm Springs Historical Society and board member of the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, traces the evolution of cool in Palm Springs in a fun exploration through pictures of the nightclubs, music, architecture and celebrities defining the town in the 1940s and 50s.

The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to educate and promote public awareness of the importance of preserving the historical resources and architecture of the city of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area.” PSPF offers free membership as a public benefit.To learn more about the work of the foundation see www.pspreservationfoundation.org.